Valar Morghulis: Let's Talk About That Incredible Game of Thrones Finale

Talk about a finale, folks. We've been hearing that the final three episodes of the fourth season of Game of Thrones would be killer, and killer they were. Three (or four) major characters died in the last hour (none of them Tyrion—yay!), we touched on almost every story line, and even got to see a bunch of unexpected characters meet. Let's get to it. Unexpected character meeting no. 1: When Jon Snow heads out to negotiate with Mance Rayder, their (mostly civil) interaction is cut short by an attack from...Stannis! Stan, you did something! Proud of you, bud. Now he's taken up residence at Castle Black. The thing that scares me most about this? Melisandre making eyes at Jon during the funeral scene. Jon, do yourself a huge favor and run from that witch and her leaches. Cersei tells Tywin the truth about her and Jaime. Cersei is weirdly smug about the whole thing ("Your legacy is a lie"), and Tywin is not happy. So unhappy that he just denies the whole thing, and she goes and has sex with Jaime to really make an impression. Cersei goes as far as to kiss Jaime's fake hand—the one thing she despises

Talk about a finale, folks. We've been hearing that the final three episodes of the fourth season of Game of Thrones would be killer, and killer they were. Three (or four) major characters died in the last hour (none of them Tyrion—yay!), we touched on almost every story line, and even got to see a bunch of unexpected characters meet. Let's get to it.

Unexpected character meeting no. 1: When Jon Snow heads out to negotiate with Mance Rayder, their (mostly civil) interaction is cut short by an attack from...Stannis! Stan, you did something! Proud of you, bud. Now he's taken up residence at Castle Black. The thing that scares me most about this? Melisandre making eyes at Jon during the funeral scene. Jon, do yourself a huge favor and run from that witch and her leaches.

Cersei tells Tywin the truth about her and Jaime. Cersei is weirdly smug about the whole thing ("Your legacy is a lie"), and Tywin is not happy. So unhappy that he just denies the whole thing, and she goes and has sex with Jaime to really make an impression. Cersei goes as far as to kiss Jaime's fake hand—the one thing she despises most about him—to prove her devotion.

__Daenerys chains up her dragons.__Well, two of them—Drogon is still off flying and burning toddlers. How horribly sad was that scene when the man presented his daughter's bones to Dany? She knew her babies wouldn't be obedient much longer, and now their moment of rebellion has officially arrived. She chains up the other two in the catacombs, something I don't think they'll take too kindly to once released.

Bran finally reaches the Weirwood tree. But not before fighting off some Inferi wights by using his warg powers on Hodor. Sadly, we lose the ailing Jojen in the fight, but he had a vision of his death earlier this season, which is more than most characters can say. RIP, Joj—you were adorable in Love Actually. But what was inside the tree? The Three-Eyed Raven of Bran's dreams, personified. When Bran asks him if he'll ever walk again, the seer replies "you will fly." Vague but cool. Related: I hope Rickon and Osha are OK.

Unexpected character meeting no. 2: Brienne and Podrick are on their merry way when they run into...Arya and the Hound! As soon as Brienne figures out who Arya is, she and the Hound fight over who will take her with them. It was actually quite touching to hear the Hound say he was looking out for her (as opposed to just keeping her alive so he could collect a ransom for her), and that semblance of affection is enough to seal Arya's loyalty to him. Then there's the incredible fight between GoT's biggest, strongest woman and second-biggest, strongest man—and Brienne proves the victor. While she and World's Worst Babysitter Podrick (you had one job!) look for Arya, she finds the Hound hanging on by a thread. He tells her to go with Brienne for safety, but she has no interest. Then, in one of the more heartbreaking moments of the episode, the Hound starts insulting her, saying he should have taken Sansa while he had the chance—anything to get her angry enough to put him out of his misery. Arya is stoic, and when he finally begs her to kill him, she just walks away. Officially, I'm not including him in my death count, though things aren't looking good.

Jaime frees Tyrion. Hooray! Thanks, Jaime. You get lemon-cake points, even though you're sleeping with your sister again. Jaime tells Tyrion he'll meet Varys once he escapes. But before that happens, Tyrion gets sidetracked by a familiar figure—Shae. In his father's bed. And she sleepily calls Tywin "My Lion." OK, Shae, I officially hate you, and you are the worst, and I am not all that upset that Tyrion killed you with a necklace (accessories are lethal on this show, didn't you know?). I'm sad for Tyrion, but not for her. Then...

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__Tyrion kills Tywin.__Remember how ironic (and sad) it was two weeks ago when Tywin announced his son's death sentence, knowing he was innocent? Well, Tyrion explains that to his father, finally saying everything he's wanted to say for years before shooting him with a crossbow. Whoa. This is the biggest death of the night (the season? He and Joffrey may be tied), and it will surely have consequences in season five. I don't think Cersei and Jaime will be leaving King's Landing any time soon, but Margaery may be.

Arya sets sail to Braavos. I was wondering why they showed the faceless man during "previously on Game of Thrones!" Arya continued her lifelong streak of badassery by remembering to hold on to the iron coin from the crafty guy who helped her out in season two and telling the ship's captain "Valar Morghulis." (Translation: All men must die. Sound familiar?) Now, she's on her way to Braavos.

What. A. Season! What parts of the finale were your favorite? Which character death made you saddest? And don't miss Jess's interview with Kit Harington, because he says he'll date me in it! I'll hold him to that.